Community

The Islamic Information Centre organised are Ifthar ceremony at the J.R. Jayewar-dene Cultural Centre recently, under the patronage of the President of the Centre, Mohamed Imran. Deputy Minister of Technogy and Research, Faizer Mustapha was the chief guest. Here ITN Director Hashim Omar presents a memento to a bhikkhu. Pic: Ruzaik Farook

The awards presentation ceremony of the Essay Competition organised by the Liberty Interna-tional Teachers' Association, among pre-school teachers in Sri Lanka was held recently at the Sri Lanka Youth Centre, Maharagama. Here the chief guest First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa presents an award to the a winner in the Tamil medium, Mrs. N. Kumanishwari. Chairman/Director ener-al of the NYSC Lalith Piyum Perera looks on. Pic: Wehelle Piyathilake, Maharagama Spl. Cor.

Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena called on the leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera at the Bodhiraja Dharmayathanaya, Embilipitiya recently. The MEP candidate for the Provincial Council Election under UPFA Dr. Chandrasiri Withanarachchi was also present. Pic: Mohamed Imthiyas, Colombo Central TKN Cor.

The Past Pupils' Association of Muslim Ladies’ College, Colombo organised a pre-Ramazan sale at the College premises recently. Here the chief guest, Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, guests of honour, Ms. Masha Mansoor, Principal Dr. Hajarjahan Mansoor and PPA Vice President Ms. Fawaza Thaha at the opening cer-emony. Pic: Ruzaik Farook

The Sino-Lanka Friendship Association was set up to promote cultural, educational, religious and trade relations between Sri Lanka and China at Gregory's Avenue, Colombo recently. Here the Patron of the Association, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne signs a document after opening the office. President of the Association Sujith Pri-yantha Gunaratne, Secretary Dayaratne Ratagedara, Treasurer Ranjan Pushpakumara, Auditor E.H.I.K. Wijenayake and Coordi-nating Officer Upul Kumara Weerasekara are also in the picture.

The Chairperson of the Galloluwa Jummah Masjid, Minuwangoda Al Haj A.H.M. Munas honoured Chief Minister Prasanna Ranat-hunga by draping him with a golden shawl for his services to the Muslim community. Pradeshiya Sabha member M. Suhaithar and the Principal Athaur Rahman are also in the picture.

Pic: M.S.M. Munthasir, Panadura Central Gr. Cor.

A blood donation campaign organised by the People's Bank, Pana-dura main branch was held at the Bank's premises, to mark its 51st anniversary. Here staffers donate blood.

Pic: Susil Ratnaweera, Panadura North Gr. Cor.

'A private library of S.H.M. Jameel' was opened at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka recently under the auspices of the Vice Chancellor Dr. S.M. Mohamed Ismail. Here Senior Asst. Librarian Mashroofa Haameem receives a collection of books from the wife of S.H.M. Jameel Mrs. Sittiy Arifha Jameel (centre) while the Vice Chancellor looks on.

Pic: M.A. Phakurdeen, Addalaichenai Gr. Cor.

The gold prize winner of the 400m event at the South Asian Games held recently in Sri Lanka, Dulag Madusanka was felicitat-ed at a function at the NYSC Training Centre, Mirigama recently. Here the Chairman/Director General NYSC Lalith Piyum Perera presents a memento to Madusanka, a member of the Weweldeniya ‘Pubudu’ Youth Club. Provincial Councillor Chandana Amaras-inghe is also in the picture.

Pic Wehelle Piyathilake, Maharagama Spl. Cor.

The annual Vel chariot festival of Sri Sivasubramaniar Swamy Kovil, Jeyanthi Nagar, Ginthupitiya, Colombo 13 was held recent-ly. Here the decorated chariot is being taken in a procession from the kovil along the streets.

Pic: A. Maduraveeran, Colombo North Gr. Cor.

Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils A.L.M. Athaullah was the chief guest at the ceremonial opening of the Regional Office for Probation and Child Care constructed at a cost of Rs. 12 million at Akkaraipattu. Here he hands over a cheque to a beneficiary for her children's education while former Provincial Ministers M.S.Subair, M.S. Uthumalebe and Secretary, Ministry of Health of the Eastern Province U.L.A. Azees look on.

Pic: M.A. Phakurdeen, Addalaichenai Gr. Cor.

Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka, former Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils was sashed with a golden shawl by the Akkaraipattu Mayor Athaullah Ahamed Zackie recently. Here the Mayor presents a memento to Dr. Jayathilaka. Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils A.L.M. Athaullah looks on.

Pic: I.L.M. Rizan Addalaichenai Central Cor.

Iresh Sarathchandra of Australia donated an incubator worth Rs. million to the Kethumathi Women's Hospital, Panadura recently. Here the Medical Superintendent Dr. M.H.M. Aasad receives the equipment from Sarathchandra. Hospital Development Commit-tee member Gamini Peiris is also in the picture.

Pic: Panadura Central Group Cor.

A Tamil book on medicine titled Nalamudan authored by Dr. S. Siv-adas was launched at the Saraswathi Hall, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 4 recently. Here the Chief Editor, Virakesari (Weekly) Publications V. Devaraj presents the maiden copy to Prof. M. Thirunavukkarasu of South India while the Dr. M.K. Murugananthan and well-known social worker T. Eswaran look on.

Pic: A. Maduraveeran, Colombo North Gr. Cor.The paddy-seeds distribution ceremony among Hambantota Zone teachers, or r.

Pic: M. Irfan Zakariya, Hambantota TKN Spl. Cor.

The Negombo Municipality purchased machinery and equipment which included four tractors, one gully, two water bowsers, a three-wheeler and a double cab, to the value of over Rs. 187 lakhs. Here the Mayor of Negombo, Antony Jayaweera hands over the keys of the vehicles to the MOH Negombo, N.K. Wijeyalath. Dayan Lanza, M.R.Z. Fareez, M.S.M. Sakaulla and Municipal Councillors are also in the picture.

Pic: H. Fernando, Negombo Spl. Cor.

The Sri Lanka-Hambantota Muhammadiya Association organ-ised the Meelad Day competition for the 10th consecutive occa-sion at Muhammadiya Mawatha, Hambantota recently. Here As Seyyed Hasan Moulan, Predential Advisor for Muslim Cultural Affairs and former President of Hambantota Mosques Manage-ment M.S. Usuph presents a certificate to a winner.

Pic: M. Irfan Zakariya, Hambantota Thinakaran Spl. Cor.

People's Bank, Delgoda branch provided microcredit loans amounting to Rs. 13 lakhs to twenty self-employed persons in the Egoda-Pelahela village at a ceremony at the Egoda-Pelahela Sri Bodhirajaramaya Vihara recently. Here the Deputy Gen-eral Manger T.A. Ariyapala presents a cheque to an applicant. Delgoda branch Manager Ajantha Gamaarachchi and Gam-paha Regional Office Micro Finance and Development Officer R.U.W.K. Dissanayake are also in the picture.

Pic: Mahanama Vithanage, Malwana Gr. Cor.

Thambiah Memorial Society organised a softball cricket tourna-ment at the Vigulawatte Ground, Gampola recently. Here the President of the Society T. Dayabaran (right) presents the trophy to the winning team Captain P. Visvaraj of Hindu College, Gam-pola, while the Principal S. Ragu and Sports Master S.J. Kingsley look on. Pic: D. Vasanthakumar, Nawalapitiya TKN Gr. Cor.

World Breastfeeding Day organised by the Maharagama Women's Clubs Federation was held recently at the Maharagama Secretariat. A blessing ceremony and lullaby program was conducted by the Director (Music) of the National Institute of Education, Maha-ragama, Sangeetha Visharada Sudath Sama-rasinghe for expectant mothers.

Pic: Wehelle Piyathilake, Maharagama Spl. Cor.

A ceremony was held at Arakawila Sri Jinaratanarama temple recently, where twenty - eight ‘Bo’ saplings were planted near 28 shrine rooms, newly built at the temple premises. The Chief incumbent of the Sri Jinaratanaramaya, Ven. Handapangoda Jinasiri Thera and the ‘Dayaka Sabha’ organised the program with assistance from the Chairman. Thevni Reception Hall, Arakawila, Sisira Kumara here the devotees in a pro-cession reach the temple with the saplings.Pic: Priyadarshani Kahawala, Ingiriya Central Gr. Cor.

The inter-club women's elle tournament organ-ised by the Paradise Toys Club, Hendala, Wattala was held at the Vijaya Kumaratunga playground, Kerawalapitiya, Wattala recently. “Super Angel” Club clinched the championship. Here the team captain Miss Chintha Lakmali and Vice Captain Miss. Anne Sudharsani receive the trophy from the chief guest, Achim Fehn while the main spon-sors Dines Ekanayake and Neil Fernando look on.

Pic: A. Maduraveeran, Colombo North Gr. Cor.

The China Fort Fassiya Jumma Mosque, Beruwala celebrated its 96th Burdah Majilis recently. Here Moulavi M.M.M. Jumah (Rawli) addresses the gathering.

Pic: B.M. Mukthar, Beruwala Spl. Cor.

EVENTS

RASSL lecture on Aug. 14A public lecture on ‘The Buddhist Influence on Samuel

Beckett, James Joyce and other English writers’ by Prof. Stuart Cooning, Adjunct Professor at the Stevenson Uni-versity, USA, formerly of Harvard University's Divinity School, organised by the Royal Asiatic Society, Sri Lanka (RASSL) will be held on Tuesday, August 14 at 5 p.m. at the Mahaveli Centre, Ananda Coomaraswamy MW, Colombo 7.

It is open to the public.

Krishnamurti talkA recorded public talk on ‘To be utterly free of disor-

der’ delivered by the late Indian sage J. Krishnamurti will be replayed at the Anula Nursery School hall, High Level Road, Colombo 6 today at 9.45 a.m. It is organised by the Krishnamurti Centre, Sri Lanka Inc.

OFFICE - BEARERSSathsarana Janahitha Foundation

Advisory Committee: Ven. Welamitiyawe Kusal-adhamma Thera, Ven. Borelle Athula Thera, Ven. Dodampahala Rahula Thera, Ven. Padalangala Dham-madeva Thera, Dr. Punchi Nilame Meegaswatte, Pan-dula Adagama, Prathibha Mahanama, Mohan Pal-liyaguru, Dr. Nimal KarunasiriChairman: Somaweera ChandrasiriSecretary: Gunapala WickramarachchiTreasurer: Jayasiri AriyasingheNational Organiser: A. KotalawalaDeputy Chairman: Prisantha PinthuAssistant Secretary: Lakmal JayasingheDeputy Treasurer: Thilak SamaranayakeMedia Secretaries: Kumara Neelawala and Saranapala Pamunuwa